North Kingstown High School and Deering Middle School, grades 9,12, and 7
Observations: From what I've seen in both schools the "ending of the period" is similar in both school systems and for all three grades. The way each teacher ends their lesson is by simply restating the goal for the days lesson and if they've met it. If they hadn't they will explain that they will work further on the topic the next time they meet. They ask the class to clean up their work areas and are told to have a great day. When each teacher states what goal they had or hadn't met, I would assume that this is the part where they are emphasizing lab work activities, or activities in general. They way in which they go about things in the end of the class period could be considered a routine as I've witnessed them ending each class a certain way each day of observation. Mrs. Kouttab and Mr. Shunney are really great with making sure there are at least a couple of minutes left at the end of the class period (dead time) to allow the students to 'calm' down and regain themselves for the next class period. As far as homework goes, both teachers assign home research and work in the beginning of the class period- not in the end or as the bell is ringing. The students' reaction toward the way in which their teacher closes the period is nonchalant. They know the closing routine and have become used to it. They enjoy being able to talk softly at the end of period and are respectful by not being too loud or rowdy.
Reflections: I believe the way in which my CTs are wrapping up their class periods is pretty admirable. They have total control over the class and are able to say and teach all that they want to. They aren't scrambling to get things done or write out the homework as the bell is ringing. The class doesn't depart and leave behind a mess with materials strewn around. It's organized and non-chaotic. I would definitely mimic their ways of ending a period. One thing that I really like is when each teacher re-states what their goal was for the lesson and basically asks the class if they think they had met those goals. I feel like when they hadn't and they let the class know that they will continue working on the lesson the next day it is reassuring to the students. I know that if I were in their shoes and was in a class where things weren't completed or parts of the lab didn't get finished and I knew that the missing information might end up on a quiz- that I'd feel a little uneasy and wouldn't stop wondering or worrying about that days' work. It's good to go over briefly what they had done for the day. The only thing I think I'd change is that at the end of the period, even though homework was assigned in the beginning of the period, I would just orally restate what I expected of them the next time I saw them in class and remind them (because there is time left before the bell) to write down the homework if they hadn't already. Overall, I believe that my CTs ways in ending their class periods are efficient and beneficial to the students.
Observations: From what I've seen in both schools the "ending of the period" is similar in both school systems and for all three grades. The way each teacher ends their lesson is by simply restating the goal for the days lesson and if they've met it. If they hadn't they will explain that they will work further on the topic the next time they meet. They ask the class to clean up their work areas and are told to have a great day. When each teacher states what goal they had or hadn't met, I would assume that this is the part where they are emphasizing lab work activities, or activities in general. They way in which they go about things in the end of the class period could be considered a routine as I've witnessed them ending each class a certain way each day of observation. Mrs. Kouttab and Mr. Shunney are really great with making sure there are at least a couple of minutes left at the end of the class period (dead time) to allow the students to 'calm' down and regain themselves for the next class period. As far as homework goes, both teachers assign home research and work in the beginning of the class period- not in the end or as the bell is ringing. The students' reaction toward the way in which their teacher closes the period is nonchalant. They know the closing routine and have become used to it. They enjoy being able to talk softly at the end of period and are respectful by not being too loud or rowdy.
Reflections: I believe the way in which my CTs are wrapping up their class periods is pretty admirable. They have total control over the class and are able to say and teach all that they want to. They aren't scrambling to get things done or write out the homework as the bell is ringing. The class doesn't depart and leave behind a mess with materials strewn around. It's organized and non-chaotic. I would definitely mimic their ways of ending a period. One thing that I really like is when each teacher re-states what their goal was for the lesson and basically asks the class if they think they had met those goals. I feel like when they hadn't and they let the class know that they will continue working on the lesson the next day it is reassuring to the students. I know that if I were in their shoes and was in a class where things weren't completed or parts of the lab didn't get finished and I knew that the missing information might end up on a quiz- that I'd feel a little uneasy and wouldn't stop wondering or worrying about that days' work. It's good to go over briefly what they had done for the day. The only thing I think I'd change is that at the end of the period, even though homework was assigned in the beginning of the period, I would just orally restate what I expected of them the next time I saw them in class and remind them (because there is time left before the bell) to write down the homework if they hadn't already. Overall, I believe that my CTs ways in ending their class periods are efficient and beneficial to the students.